Six Holi revellers, most of them youth, drown in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: At least six persons, most of them youth, died due to drowning after Holi celebrations in different parts of Odisha today.

Two youngsters drowned in Indravati river at Bania ghat under Kotpad police limits of Koraput district while taking bath after celebrating Holi today afternoon. Anukush Nayak and Jagannath Mohapatra of Belama Sahi were rescued by the Fire Service personnel in critical condition and rushed to the Kotpad CHC. Doctors declared the two dead at the hospital.

Abhijit Barik of Biribati area of Cuttack was taking bath along with three friends in Mahanadi river at Nua Koruan ghat after playing Holi. He fell into deep water and swept away in the river current. The Fire Service personnel later fished out the body of Barik from the river.

Another youth, Shatrughna Behera drowned while taking bath in a pond at Haridagotha village under Keonjhar Town Police limits.

Locals rescued critical Behera from the pond and called up the 108 ambulance. They then took him in an auto-rickshaw to the Keonjhar District Headquarters Hospital when the ambulance did not reach on time. However, the auto-rickshaw ran out of fuel and Barik was taken in a motorcycle. He died on the way to the hospital.

Earlier in the day, two persons died while taking bath in Mahanadi river in Kuchinda of Sambalpur district after Holi celebrations. The deceased were working as labourers and hailed from Balarampur district of Uttar Pradesh. They have been identified as Mukesh Yadav and Kailash Yadav.

After Fire Service personnel received information, they reached the spot and rescued the two youth from the river. The duo was rushed to the Kuchinda Sub Divisional Hospital where doctors declared them dead.